designinshort.com

What It Is

Design, In Short is a personal note-taking website centered on “design reading,” maintained by designer Norman Lau. According to the site content, the author reads writing in design and related fields, then breaks down the original authors’ ideas into his own notes. The page lists multiple books, including Change By Design, Contextual Design, In the Bubble, Flow, and others, covering topics across design, architecture, technology, social sciences, art, business, and narrative.

Core Content and Teaching Format

From an education/course perspective, this is not a course product in the traditional sense. The content does not show live classes, recorded lessons, 1-on-1 coaching, assignments, project-based training, or a learning community. It is closer to an open library of design reading summaries. Its core value lies in helping readers access classic design-related texts in a shorter format and understand them through the author’s personal perspective. The site also supports sorting by title or year, making it easier to browse by book.

Certification, Pricing, and Instructor Background

The content does not mention any certification, certificate, or proof of course completion, so it should not be viewed as a professional certification course. In terms of pricing, there is also no visible information about fees, subscriptions, or memberships, so the captured content does not indicate any paid course offering. As for the instructor background, the author identifies himself as Norman Lau, a designer focused on digital interaction and experience. The content selection is based on his personal interests, and the notes are clearly written from a personal point of view.

Pros and Cons

The main advantage is its open range of topics: it places design within broader humanistic, technological, and business contexts, making it useful for developing design judgment rather than simply learning software skills. The notes are relatively concise, which helps readers who want to understand classic design books but have limited time. The drawbacks are also clear: it lacks a systematic course structure, with no defined learning path, practice feedback, or support services. The depth and coverage depend on the author’s personal reading progress, and it may not fit every learning goal.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for designers, UX/interaction/experience professionals, design students, and self-learners who want to build an interdisciplinary design reading list. It is not suitable for people seeking certificates, job-oriented training, Chinese-language instruction, or teacher guidance. Access from China cannot be determined from the available content, and there is no information about network connectivity or payment methods. As alternatives, users may consider structured design thinking courses, UX course platforms, or reading-group resources from Chinese design communities.